Mariota Returns, Leads Titans to Wild 34-28 Over Saints

The Titans welcomed back their rookie quarterback in a big way on Sunday, as Marcus Mariota was the hero in the Titans second win of the year, a 34-28 win over the Saints in New Orleans.

Mariota was 28 of 39 passing for a personal-best 371 yards and four touchdowns, including a 5-yard scoring pass to Anthony Fasano in overtime for the win.

The Titans hadn’t won since an opening day win over the Buccaneers in Tampa. Between that and today’s win, the team fired coach Ken Whisenhunt and replaced him with new hire Mike Mularkey.

”I’m still shaking,” Mularkey said. ”It was an absolutely great win for this team. They are so competitive and want to win so badly. Never once did they ever flinch. We kept coming back and we had to find a way to win this game.”

Saints QB Drew Brees was 28 of 39 for 387 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored on a short keeper, but the Titans held him late and picked off a pass in the end zone for preserve what could have been a score for the Saints.

The Titans defense also sacked Brees three times, and put pressure on him helping with the win.

The Saints took a 28-20 lead on Brees’ short pass to tight end Michael Hoomanawanui shortly after Brian Orakpo was called for a double unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing a flag thrown against teammate David Bass for a high hit on a sack.

The Titans responded with Mariota’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hunter, followed by a 2-point conversion to Delanie Walker, who also caught a pair of touchdown passes and finished with seven receptions for 95 yards.

The 2-6 Titans will be in action against the undefeated Panthers at home next Sunday.